Soaring back to health

Wednesday

Apr 15, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 10, 2014 at 12:01 PM

CHARLES CITY COUNTY — When an eagle gets a tummy ache, it’s a bit more complicated than taking some Pepto-Bismol. A sick eagle found in Prince George spent three weeks recuperating at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The bird received a clean bill of health last week and was returned to freedom on Monday.

CHARLES CITY COUNTY — When an eagle gets a tummy ache, it’s a bit more complicated than taking some Pepto-Bismol. A sick eagle found in Prince George spent three weeks recuperating at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The bird received a clean bill of health last week and was returned to freedom on Monday.

“He was found in Prince George down on the ground and unable to fly,” explained Ed Clark, president and co-founder of the center. The bird was captured by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on March 26 and take to the center in Waynesboro.

“The good news was, there were no serious injuries,” Clark said. “He had eaten something that didn’t agree with him and he was out of sorts. With a few weeks of supportive care and ... antibiotics he’s doing fine.”

Georgia Wells, who lives on Tavern Road in Prince George, first thought it was a buzzard near the wood line of her property.

“I had no idea he was an eagle. When he opened his wings, you could see all the white feathers and I could tell he wasn’t a buzzard,” she said.

After a few days, he started coming closer to her home, as if “he was looking for help.” She contacted the authorities, who captured the bird and saw to his treatment.

Clark said he had no broken bones and may have ingested something rotten or perhaps pesticides, since it’s planting season for local farmers. The bird was rested and then exercised in preparation for release.

Monday afternoon, Clark pulled the relatively small adult male eagle from a crate before a crowd of about 20 at Westover Plantation in Charles City County. The eagle blinked, struggled a bit and puffed his feathers. With about 10 cameras pointed at him, the eagle took cue from Clark and took off into the air on the count of three.

He stopped in a nearby tree and took in the scenery as well-wishers cooed.

“I’m glad that he made it,” Wells said as she craned up to spot the eagle between branches.

The bird won’t have a hard time finding friends nearby at the 4,200-acre James River Wildlife Refuge, Clark said.

“One of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the Eastern United States is right here on this stretch of the James River. The foraging area is perfect here,” he said. “If he has a nest or a territory back in Prince George. .. he’ll get back to that ground very quickly.”

Clark said many people are surprised to hear how many bald eagles live in Virginia. Although their numbers declined to about 50 pairs in 1980, today about 600 pairs live in the state. They’ve settled at manmade lakes like Lake Anna. He credits better education and public awareness.

The center is the only place in the state authorized to treat bald and golden eagles, Clark said.

“We are truly the Mayo Clinic for wildlife,” he said. They treated more than 2,400 animals in 2009. As Clark stood near the banks of the James River, the center was set to receive its 14th injured eagle this year.

• Patrick Kane may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 3248 or pkane@progress-index.com.

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